Rosenthal reported on Friday that the Phillies and Giants were the front runners to sign Pagan.

“We didn’t really have a Plan A. We had like 10 Plan B’s,” said Amaro, because he didn’t think the market for center field was that strong in the beginning.

The Phillies options at center field are dwindling. Josh Hamilton is linked with the Boston Red Sox, Washington acquired Denard Spahn in a trade from Minnesota and free agent Michael Bourn’s asking price could still be too high for the Phillies.